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Saturday, February 7, 2009

Guwahati, Feb. 6: When music becomes a medium of celebrating itself, the experience transcends all art.Come Sunday and some of the best known names in the Assamese music world will come together at Nehru Stadium from 5.45pm for a programme, aptly named A Tribute to Assamese Music.It will be the largest such assembly in recent times with more than 500 performers, musicians and singers participating on a single platform.

The function will showcase the state’s rich musical tapestry, starting from socio-cultural icon Sankardev to the living legend, Bhupen Hazarika, who will also be felicitated during the function.The performers will include icons of the Assamese music fraternity like Zubeen Garg, Debojit Saha, Saswati Phukan, Jitul Sonowal and Mayukh Hazarika.“They are all coming together to pay tribute to the doyens of Assamese music — right from the great socio-cultural icons of Assam like Sankardev and Ajan Fakir to Bhupen Hazarika and other eminent singers,” said one of the organisers of the event.

Apart from the performances, another attraction will be a specially composed medley on the “journey of Assamese music” down the ages. In this programme, artistes will showcase the evolution of Assamese music, dressed in period-costumes and specially choreographed moves.“The aim is to create a befitting melodious extravaganza to celebrate and honour the work of the musical legends of Assam,” the organiser said.

Zubeen Garg, one of Assam’s most popular singer-composers and current heartthrob, said he was excited about the function.“It is something the people of Assam, particularly the younger generation, must watch. Right from Srimanta Sankardeva and Ajan Fakir to Bhupen Hazarika, Assam has a glorious socio-cultural musical past and we cannot forget them. The function will be a memorable one for me,” he said.

Governor S.C. Mathur will be among the dignitaries expected to grace the evening.Manisha Hazarika, the widow of Assamese music legend Jayanta Hazarika and a singer in her own right, was philosophical as she said, “How can we look to the future by forgetting the past? It is a very noble and innovative initiative. The function will be very nostalgic for me, as I am expecting to hear many hit numbers of Jayanta.”

Voice of India, Debojit Saha, said, “It is a great privilege to be part of the function. I am a great fan of Assamese music legends starting with Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha, Bhupen Hazarika and Jayanta Hazarika.”

Singer Jitul Sonowal, who had set a new trend in Assamese modern songs, said Assam had a huge treasure of golden and unforgettable voices in the field of music.“The world must know about the treasure, otherwise it will be lost. It is high time to preserve the past of Assamese music and Sunday’s function will be a start,” he added.